Watch With Mother

Dixie Elliot ✍ As comedy double acts go, the Brits had The Two Ronnie's, the Americans had Laurel and Hardy, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, as well as Abbott and Costello, while the Blanket Protest had Teapot and Hector.

The antics of this comedy duo had us laughing, especially when our spirits needed lifting after forced washes and beatings.

As we were recently celebrating the 70th birthday of Teapot from afar, my mind drifted back to the occasion of Hector's own birthday during the protest.

Some genius came up with the idea of doing a 'This Is Your Life' for him. I can't remember who played the part of Eamonn Andrews but it went something like this.

"Hector get up to your door!"

"What?"

"Hector McNeill, this is your life!"

Somebody then hummed the theme tune to 'This Is Your Life.'

Surprise guests, who came as no surprise, from around the wing, were called to their doors to tell stories of Hector's Life up until then.

There was of course the incident which led to him being sentenced to 15 years in the H-Blocks, when he was wounded by a British soldier while on a sniping mission. A few lads took to sniping at him during that tale.

Then there was a really funny story of missing milk in a hut up in The Cages. No one knew who was taking it until someone walked into the TV room and there was Hector sitting with a bowl of cornflakes looking up at the TV.

'Watch With Mother' was on!!

Thomas Dixie Elliot is a Derry artist and a former H Block Blanketman.

Follow Dixie Elliot on Twitter @IsMise_Dixie